www.BookHoundsYA.net

You'd have to have, like, a lentil for a soul to hate wiener dogs. ~Zuzana from The Daughter of Smoke & Bones by Laini Taylor

Saturday, December 4, 2010

REVIEW:Steel by Carrie Vaughn

Description

When Jill finds a rusty sword tip on a Caribbean beach, she is instantly intrigued—and little expects it will transport her through time to the deck of a pirate ship. Will a dark enchantment, salty kisses, and a duel with an evil pirate captain leave her stranded in the eighteenth century forever?

Drawing on piratical lore and historical fact, Carrie Vaughn creates a vivid world of swaying masts and swelling seas, where blood magic overrules the laws of nature, romance is in the air, and death can come at the single slip of a sword.

About the Author

Carrie Vaughn survived her air force brat childhood and managed to put down roots in Colorado. Her first book, Kitty and the Midnight Hour, launched a popular series of novels about a werewolf named Kitty who hosts a talk-radio advice show. Ms. Vaughn has also written many short stories. This is her first work for young readers. Ms. Vaughn lives in Colorado.

Details

Reading level: Young Adult

Hardcover: 304 pages

Publisher: HarperTeen (March 15, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0061547913

ISBN-13: 978-0061547911

SOURCE: AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Carrie Vaughn is one of my favorite authors, so when she started to write young adult novels, I was more than thrilled to get a sneek peek at this one. Steel is just a fun and fabulous read that combines a bit of time travel with historical fiction. It has great characters and a believable plot. Well, as far as you can get with time travel and historical fiction. I found myself transported back in time and spent the afternoon googling the pirates named in the story.

Jill is an overachieving sixteen year old that wants to be a fencing national champion. While on vacation in the Carribean, she stumbles upon a a piece of rusty steel and immediately knows that it is a sword. She goes for a boat ride with her family and gets washed overboard. When she comes up, Jill is rescued by a pirate ship in the eighteenth century. Let's just say that it is a really good thing Jill knows about sword play.

There isn't much romance in this one and only one mention of a drunken situation where the pirates are more gentleman than today's teens could ever be. There is alcohol consumption, but with the time era, it is acceptable. I hope the author delves more into this type of story since I really enjoyed it.